Prediction of arterial partial pressure of oxygen with pulse oxygen saturation measurements

• Published in: The Journal of pediatrics Vol. 133; no. 1; pp. 63 - 66
• Main Authors: Brockway, Julia, Hay, William W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.07.1998; Mosby-Year Book, Inc
• Subjects: Gestational Age; Humans; Infant, Newborn - blood; Oximetry; Oxygen - blood; PaO 2; SpO 2; ROP
• ISSN: 0022-3476; 1097-6833
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3476(98)70179-9

Objectives: We studied 22 neonates with gestational ages from 26 to 40 weeks to determine how accurately pulse oxygen saturation (SpO 2) could predict arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2) and how much time and effort would be required to achieve and maintain a desired SpO 2 value. Study design: SpO 2 was maintained at 90%, 92%, 94%, 96%, and 98% by adjustment of F iO 2. PaO 2 was correlated with SpO 2 by nonlinear mixed effects regression analysis. Results: PaO 2 (y) correlated positively with SpO 2 ( x): y = (0.03)• e 0.08 ( x ). Variation of PaO 2 increased from a range of ±10 Torr at SpO 2 = 90% to ± 28 Torr at SpO 2 = 98%, principally as a result of decreasing hemoglobin-oxygen affinity, with no effect of advancing gestational age, subject temperature, pH, or PaCO 2. Considerable time (18 ± 14 SD minutes) and effort (5 ± 3 SD F iO 2 adjustments/min) were required to achieve and maintain a desired SpO 2. Conclusions: PaO 2 varied broadly with SpO 2 in a clinically acceptable range of SpO 2 (90% to 98%), and the variability increased at higher SpO 2 values. Considerable time and effort were required to achieve and maintain desired SpO 2 values. (J Pediatr 1998;133:63-6)